BOCRA issues fines for fake phones
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | 1710 Views |
Real or not: Regulators across Africa are struggling to enforce type approval standards in their markets PIC ITWEB AFRICA
According to the Authority’s annual report released recently, BOCRA conducted inspections on 169 communication retailers around the country and found 55 of them to be non-compliant, selling devices that were substandard, counterfeit or unauthorised.
BOCRA is responsible for enforcing type approval standards in the country which ensure that all communications equipment used in Botswana is compliant with national standards, covering health and safety, electro- magnetic compatibility, interoperability, and the latest National Radio Frequency Plan. In its inspections last year, BOCRA seized 432 communication devices and dished out penalties not exceeding P2,000 to those selling them.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...